Gracie's Sin

by Freda Lightfoot

  It was a beautiful, peaceful spot, the sun sparkling on the gentle waves that lapped the curve of the shore; the small patch of golden sand fringed with rocks on either side; a row of fisherman’s cottages edging the shore. Way above their heads, looking out to sea, were the ruins of St Catherine’s Castle set on the point of the headland to guard the mouth of the river as it had done for centuries against likely invaders. It didn’t seem possible that any foreign force could ever defeat the brave men of Fowey. The ‘Fowey Gallants’, as they were once called, had sailed the seas for centuries, and were considered invincible. Certainly the Spanish had become convinced of that fact. So far as Lou and her friends were concerned, the town was still capable of seeing off any modern invaders with equal ferocity.

  ‘Race you to the rocks,’ Gordon cried and struck out strongly, Lou squealing in dismay that he’d cheated by setting off before her.

  Lena paddled about in the shallows with more caution, proclaiming she was no water baby, until Gracie began to spray and splash her, making her yell with delighted fear and get even more wet in her efforts to escape. For once she didn’t object to the rough treatment, being far too thrilled to have been included on this jolly outing, despite her reputation as a misery-boots.

  Gracie said, ‘It’s good to see you enjoying yourself, Lena,’ her own face shining with happiness, blonde hair flowing in the gentle breeze.

  ‘I think I’ve been stung by a jellyfish,' Lena groaned and couldn’t quite understand why everybody burst out laughing and began pelting her with more water.

  They soon became happily engrossed building a sand castle, nobly defended by a deep moat, just as if they were schoolgirls. ‘Wish we’d got a flag to stick on top,’ Tess mourned.

  ‘Use my sock,’ Enid offered, attaching a multi-holed, soggy, green object to the end of a long twig and sticking it in the sand. It looked so funny that they all fell about laughing. Jeannie lit up a dog end and wandered off to sit on a rock for a quiet smoke, her thoughts seemingly miles away, as if wishing life could always be this sweet.

  After a session drying off in the warm September sunshine they strolled along the Esplanade, strung out in a line arm in arm, into the tiny town; Lou and Gordon dawdling behind with their arms wrapped about each other. They enjoyed a cream tea in the Ship Inn, explored the length and breadth of Fore Street, popping in and out of all the quaint shops and finally took the tiny ferry boat across to Polruan where they climbed the steep hill over the headland to Lantic Bay.

  With the sun warming their faces and the tang of a salt breeze in the air, they were tempted to walk all the way to Polperro but common sense prevailed and they returned within the hour, again by ferry to the Town Quay, and made their way back to dear old Buttercup. It had been a marvellous day, one filled with peace and happiness, golden with sunshine. Apart from the usual gun batteries and the boom defences that protected the harbours, there might not even be a war on, or so they fooled themselves, for a little while at least.

  ‘Long may it last,’ Lou said, gazing deeply into Gordon’s eyes. ‘I want you to always come home safe to me.’

  ‘I will, don’t worry. You won’t get rid of me that easy.’ Brave words, full of love, hope and the arrogance of youth, which was all they had to sustain them.

  Chapter Six

  To bring them back to reality, they were given some practise acting as air-raid wardens. Groups of them were sent into Bodmin, Plymouth, Truro and other surrounding towns to train with the genuine wardens who had responsibility for those who hadn’t escaped the cities for the countryside each night but were weathering the air raids in shelters. It was a sobering experience to see women disguising their own fear while they comforted their children with smiles and happy bedtime stories.

  They gathered in the shelters, rich and poor, old and young, huddled together for warmth, playing games together and singing songs in an effort to pass the time. It was cramped and uncomfortable, stank of human sweat and urine, often filled with the sound of babies crying or some domestic dispute, but the sharing and camaraderie somehow diluted the terror when the drone of enemy aircraft passed overhead.

  Gracie was thankful that for her, at least, this was not a long term responsibility. There seemed so much to remember, checking that everyone had their gas masks and their admission cards, that they followed the rules and didn’t cause a nuisance to others. Despite the unsavoury nature of her surroundings, she enjoyed making sure that everyone was comfortable. Organising the tea making was one priority, chatting with the young mothers about their baby’s needs was another. Then she had to make sure everyone had brought their own clean bedding and knew to remove it afterwards, and that the old people who couldn’t carry much with them were warm and comfortable. She found a cushion and a blanket for one old lady, who was clearly cold and shivering.

  ‘Are you sure you’re all right here by the door? Wouldn’t you be warmer further in?’

  ‘Bless you. Call me Maggie, dear. But no, I’ll stay here thank you, so I can watch for my Percy when he comes, as I’m sure he will. He knows where to find me. And I’m not so mobile these days, so I can’t walk far.’

  Gracie left her, hoping her husband, wouldn’t be too long.

  Some of the women spent the night knitting scarves and balaclavas, the old men playing dominoes and swopping stories. The children all seemed to be tumbled together in one big heap, oblivious to danger. At long last came the All-Clear and Gracie went back to see how her old lady was getting along, only to find the seat empty.

  ‘Where’s Maggie? Where’s the old lady?’

  ‘Oh, she barely stayed five minutes, slipped back out before they locked the doors to look for her Percy. We tried to stop her but she’d gone before we got chance.’

  Gracie was appalled. Why on earth had she left her? Why hadn’t she gone to look for Percy herself? She was quite certain that Maggie and her poor husband would be goners. Perhaps her house, the whole street had been bombed while she was helping to fill babies’ bottles. But the very next night, in the very same seat by the door, was Maggie, a great grin on her face, and tucked under her arm was a basket.

  ‘Meet Percy. Naughty boy. Caught him in good time tonight.’ Percy was a cat.

  They hadn’t seen Rose again, despite keeping an eye out for her everywhere they went, so they were pleased and relieved when one bright September day she suddenly emerged through the trees, like a sprite out of the mist and strolled towards them, the dog at her heels. They all hugged each other like long lost buddies, Tizz jumping up excitedly at them all, ecstatically joining in with the celebration. It took a while before the dog calmed down, and several sticks had to be thrown before she collapsed, tongue lolling, and they were able to talk in peace.

  ‘Where have you been?’

  ‘Didn’t you get our note?’

  ‘Was the bike OK?’

  ‘What have you been up to?’

  ‘Why didn’t you come and see us?’

  ‘We missed you.’

  So many questions which Rose skilfully avoided answering. They sat on a log, since Tom-Tom had just announced the start of their dinner break and she encouraged them to talk about their work, and what they hoped to do when the end of the training arrived, as it surely must soon.

  Lou answered without hesitation. ‘Oh, stay here. No question.’

  ‘I’m not sure you’ll be allowed to,’ Rose warned. ‘There aren’t any permanent girls kept here. They come and go. This is only a training camp. No one ever stays very long.’ There was a note of wistfulness in her voice that was heartrending, as if she were longing that one day things might change, that the girls would stay and she could have some proper friends. They all looked at her, seeing the reality of her life for perhaps the first time.

  Lou suddenly grasped her hands. ‘I’ve just had a wonderful idea. Why don’t you join the WTC too? There’s no reason why you couldn’t be a Lumber Jill. If I can do it, anybody can.’

  Gracie whooped with delight. �
��What a marvellous notion. Of course, that’s exactly what you must do, Rose. You’d soon catch up with what we’ve learned so far, then we could be together always.’

  Rose’s eyes were shining as she listened to these plans being made, and just for one heady moment, almost believed them to be possible before reality closed in. ‘I’m only just turned seventeen. Eddie would never allow it.’

  ‘Don’t ask him.’

  ‘I’m only eighteen,’ Gracie said. ‘What of it? My parents were dead against my joining but I stuck to my guns, if you pardon the expression. There’s a war on, for God’s sake. People aren’t asking too closely about what age a person is. Anyway, I believe you can join the Women’s Land Army at seventeen. It’s only the WRNS that need you to be older. So what are you waiting for girl? Get fell in.’

  ‘And get felling.’ They all roared at the foolish joke.

  ‘Rose, there you are. I thought I heard your voice.’

  Rose started and looked up into her brother’s implacable face. ‘Oh, Eddie. I’m sorry. Am I late again? I was just talking to my friends. They were wondering if...’

  Eddie was about to say that he didn’t give a tinker’s cuss what they wondering when his eye fell upon Lou, or rather upon the fullness of her breasts thrusting forth above the sagging bib of her dungarees. He studied the length of her legs and how her lovely bright chestnut hair was falling down about her face, despite her putting up one hand to tidy the heavy bangs back into place. His gaze slid over Grace’s pale, slender figure without interest.

  ‘Well, well, p’raps you’d best introduce me. I’m always happy to meet your friends.’

  Beaming with relief, Rose told him all their names, where they came from and how they happened to be in the WTC. Had Lou not stopped her, she might well have babbled out their entire life history. Something’s wrong, Lou thought. Either the girl barely spoke a word, or she talked twenty to the dozen.

  ‘You can spare her for a few more minutes, surely?’ Lou mildly remarked, eyes flashing provocatively as she responded teasingly to his appreciative stare. ‘We’re just on our dinner break. Surely she’s entitled to one too.’

  ‘Of course, I was only worried about where she’d got to.’ There was a small silence but when nobody attempted to fill it, he went on, ‘Perhaps I’ll see you young ladies later, back in camp. Or bring them round to the house one night, Rose.’

  ‘Very kind of you,’ Gracie began, but, turning his back on her, Eddie sauntered over to where Lou sat perched on a tree root. He hunkered down so that his face came to within inches of hers. ‘We’re always glad of a bit of company out here in the back woods.’ His voice was soft, caressing. ‘You’ll come too, I hope?’

  ‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world,’ Lou whispered back, in the same tone, a beguiling air of innocence shining from her eyes as she carefully kept her wedding ring covered.

  The corners of his mouth twisted upwards into a slight smile before he stood up, allowing his gaze to linger upon her for another second or two before he swung about and strode away. The moment he’d gone, Lou wrapped her arms about herself and doubled up with laughter. ‘The cheeky beggar!

  ‘You were leading him on something shocking,’ Gracie chided, ‘and he fell for it, hook, line and sinker, poor man.’ The pair were soon rolling about, helpless with mirth. Rose looked on, bewildered.

  When she’d calmed down enough to speak again, Lou said, ‘I must say though, he ain’t half bad looking, your brother, though a bit rough round the edges. A decent shave might improve matters but he’s not bad, not bad at all.’

  Gracie poked her in the ribs. ‘Hey, you shouldn’t even be looking. Not you, a respectable married woman.’

  ‘I know. Gordon would hang him from the mainbrace, whatever that might be.’

  This set them off into fresh paroxysms of mirth and Rose struggled to join in. She’d never thought Eddie could cause such hilarity. She’d certainly never found him the remotest bit amusing, or good looking, but then she was his sister, so he wouldn’t chat her up, would he? ‘At least you got an invitation to supper out of him. You will come, won’t you?’

  ‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world,’ Lou chortled.

  Gracie wagged a finger at her. ‘Best ask Gordon’s permission first. We can’t have Rose’s brother thinking he’s going to have his wicked way with you and all he gets is a smack in the chops from your husband. Bit of a disappointment for a chap, don’t you think?’

  Rose said, ‘Actually, a smack in the chops from anybody’s husband might do Eddie a whole lot of good,’ which for some reason put a stop to the laughter as they all looked at her in surprise.

  Until that moment, she’d always spoken of him with affection, saying what a marvellous brother he’d always been to her, or at least been at pains to point out there was no real harm in him. Lou had a sudden recollection of their visit to the kitchens of the big house, and the strange sounds they had heard. ‘He didn’t actually do anything to you over that missed lunch, did he?’

  Rose was relieved to answer in all honesty that he hadn’t touched her.

  ‘Only we heard this whining sound.’

  ‘Oh, it would be Tizz, making a fuss.’

  She made no mention of the long day and night spent in the cold, damp cellar, nor the further two days locked in her room, Tizz in a cupboard on the landing so they couldn’t even be together any more. The dog had indeed spent the whole time whining and scratching to get out. Rose didn’t even glance down at her faithful companion as these thoughts ran through her mind, but she was thankful Tizz was beside her now, as usual, leaning heavily and protectively against her leg.

  ‘Lou thought it was a ghost.’ Gracie chuckled, then had to relate her own version of that visit which resulted in yet more hilarity.

  What with the interruption, entertaining as it was, they’d forgotten all about eating but the mention of that first lunch they’d all enjoyed together served now to remind them. ‘See,’ Rose said, ‘I’ve brought some sandwiches as my contribution today. ‘Only egg and cress, I’m afraid, as I didn’t have anything else.’

  ‘Egg!’ Without another word the trio fell upon the delicacy with gusto.

  In no time at all, it seemed, they were into the last week of their training, worrying about what was to happen next. It was an anxious time as Posting Out day would soon be upon them; the day when they would be given their first placement. Qualified candidates would be formally enrolled into the Timber Corps and sent to some job or other, which could be anywhere in the country. It might involve felling, doing a census, measuring the girths of trees, driving or haulage, or simply being involved with paperwork. They weren’t given much say, but were allowed to put forward their preferences and, encouraged by Lou, who was determined to remain close to Gordon, the squad had requested to be posted together somewhere in Cornwall.

  Enid too was keen to stay in the county, since she’d met an airman from St Mawgan and was always slipping out to meet him. On at least two occasions both girls had arrived back dangerously late, having stuffed their kitbags beneath the blankets to make it look as if they were asleep.

  ‘You’ll get found out,’ Gracie worried, seeing that the pair were again making preparations to break the curfew.

  ‘Then you’ll just have to sweet talk the old goat some more, won’t you?’ Lou teased, then more seriously, ‘You never did explain exactly how you persuaded Matron to let me go out with Gordon that time, or on so many occasions since, come to that.’

  ‘That would be telling.’

  ‘Aw go on. I thought we were mates. No secrets.’

  ‘This is one secret that is shared between myself and Elsie.’

  ‘And who’s Elsie when she’s at home?’

  ‘That would be telling too.’

  Jeannie said, ‘Gie over worrying about what’s past, girl. It’s what happens next that matters. There’s some of us might like to move further north. I wouldna mind goin’ back to bonnie Scotland meself. Though I’m t
old there are few billets out in the wilds of the highlands, so it’d be more camp life. And a pretty cold one, I’d say.’

  Lena pulled a face. ‘I’d prefer working for a timber merchant myself, or in a nice warm sawmill. More civilised.’

  ‘Dinna ye believe it. There’s some randy buggers run these sawmills.’ Which made them all laugh.

  ‘What about farmers? Don’t they have a reputation too, Jeannie?’ Lou asked, brown eyes shining.

  ‘Awch aye, but they’re old, so they can’t run so fast as me.’

  Gracie said, ‘Have you got a boy friend back home in Scotland then? Is that the real reason you want to go?’

  The Scot began patting and searching in her pockets for a cigarette. Sliding out the packet she pulled out a dog end and lit it, taking her time to draw in a long, satisfying drag. ‘Not any more. I had a fiancé. He was in the RAF, but he was shot down.’ The silence was long and sombre. It was Jeannie herself who broke it. ‘Don’t say anything. There’s nothing to say. Such is war. So, it might as well be Cornwall as anywhere, I suppose. I’m game.’

  Lou was out with Gordon on the afternoon that Gracie’s parents came to take her home. In fact on this, their last Saturday, all their plans seemed to go awry. It had been arranged that tonight they would take up Eddie’s invitation to supper, then Gordon arrived unexpectedly and Lou begged Gracie to go without her.

  ‘Offer my apologies but say I got called away. A relative came to visit. Long lost Aunt Mathilda. Anything you like.’

  ‘Relative? Don’t you mean husband?’

  Lou shrugged her shapely shoulders and pouted her lips to carefully apply a second layer of lipstick. ‘Tell him the truth if you like. I don’t care. He may appear to be smitten but he’ll get over it. Don’t worry, I’m a one man girl, me. It’s just that I do love to tease. I was only having a bit of fun. I’d’ve let him down gently.’ She rolled up her bangs, smoothing them back from her face and pushing in a couple more kirby grips to hold them in place.